Welcome! This blog is for fans of the 'Nearly Insane' quilt created in the 1870's by Salinda Rupp. If you would like to purchase a copy of the book by Liz Lois with the patterns, check with your local quilt store, or visit the Nearly Insane website.

If you would like to contribute to this blog, leave a comment and we can get back to you with permissions.

Tuesday, March 30, 2010

I have to confess - I just don't like this block at all. It's not the fabric, or the piecing. It's the lack of symmetry in the block - and I'm a symmetry girl. It just looks all messed up to me. However, I appreciate that it's part of the quilt, and there other blocks with the same issue, so I just have to deal with it.

That pale fabric with the flowers is becoming a firm favourite of mine - so imagine how thrilled I was to see a piece of selvedge today that confirmed that it is indeed a reproduction fabric - part of the Civil War Dressing Gowns collection. Completely made my day!

Sunday, March 28, 2010

Here is my block 5. It's almost Christmas like with all the red and green pieces.

How I wish I had more of the yellow fabric in this block - I only have a strip about 1" wide which is left over from a kit. It will have to be used sparingly, and only for the most special of blocks :-)

Saturday, March 27, 2010

Block 51 is finished :-) I managed to insert the gorgeous scissors which were part of a fabric piece won on Bemuseds blog. I love them. The gorgeous red was compliments of my good friend Rosemary and that Apricot is one of my good friend Nancys signature fabrics. A Special block for my Nearly Insane Quilt.Cheers Lynne

Block #51 - Yahoo group's challenge block this week. I had to redo the setting corner triangles after the pic because I noticed that I had no seam allowance. I changed the coloring a little by making the spokes the same color as the anvil head portion of the center. What do you think?

Friday, March 26, 2010

I'm not entirely convinced that two of the fabrics I've used are reproductions, but they look nice, so they're staying.

Foundation piecing with freezer paper is my new love, and I'm getting much better at it. This block really only took me about an hour to put together, even with the interruptions that making dinner dictates :-)

I would like to get a few more blocks done before the end of the week, but that will be dictated by my quilting schedule. So, hope to 'see' you all soon!

Thursday, March 25, 2010

This one is a cutie - it's block 4. I'm really having fun choosing the fabrics, and like the combination here. Aren't the horses in the middle cute?

Something I've done for a couple of the recent blocks is press some seams open, which I usually don't like to do. For this one, where those star points meet up with the red and yellow fabrics, the intersection was a little bulky, so opening the seams helped the block sit a bit flatter.

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

Block #33 - I really like this block. I wanted a somewhat easy one to do and this one caught my eye. I liked the yellowy orange that I used in the last block, so I decided it would be the main color in this block. I like how the color arrangement differs from the book and original quilt.

Tuesday, March 23, 2010

Here is my block 3. A very fun one to put together with foundation piecing. I've used a 'new to me' green and purple. I just love the leafy print on the green fabric. I think I'll be buying some more of that one for my stash :-)

I'm loving this project so much right now that I'm simply not interested in working on anything else. I have to absolutely force myself to do my chores and work on other commitments. Please send help! :-)

Monday, March 22, 2010

This Block did not work. I tried Jan to put the button in the centre as a feature but it was not going to work and I then made an error and had a row a holes. Those gorgeous fabrics of yours will get used but I will have to wait til the right Nearly Insane week.
Has anyone any secrets to photographing straight. This block is square, It is me who is the problem. The centre is a gorgeous flower. The gorgeous dotty fabric was a purchase during our recent holiday to Tasmania. An Early Elly S Baltimore Beauties range. Just Love it.
Will post a few photos of our holiday soon. Have a great Day Cheers Lynne

Sunday, March 21, 2010

I was sorting my blocks into their folder recently and found this block. I sort of remember making it, but discovered that I hadn't marked it off in the book. Nor had I posted a picture here on the blog. Hmmm ...

It's Block 14, and a little wonky (crooked in the centre there), but still - it's done, and I'm going to be happy with it!

Saturday, March 20, 2010

Here is my block #74. Not all of my points match up, so I am kind of disappointed. This is the BOW for the blog Nearly Insane Quilts. I used Thangles, but the half square triangles still didn't come out the right size. I might redo this one, but it is okay for now.

Friday, March 19, 2010

Isn't it fun that there are a few of us working on the NI Yahoo group challenges?

Here is my block for this week, block 46. I just purchased the yellow print last week, I really like it - it's a Kaye England fabric. And the red is one of my favourite Sturbridge Village reproductions.

I've made up freezer paper patterns for three more blocks, so if I get the chance, I'd like to get them all made up over the weekend. There are still a few quilts to finish before I head off in three weeks, but if I'm careful with my time, I should be able to get everything done. I'll check back in soon :-)

Wednesday, March 17, 2010

Hello, I am Sarah and I just started my Nearly Insane quilt. I am using the shirting lines from Renee Nanneman called Isty Bits. There are several collections and I just bought them all because I couldn't decide.This is Block #1.

This is block #2 - I did this one first, but it didn't come out the right size. It is like 3/4 inch short, Oops.

This is my block #2 redo - This one is the right size. Amazing what a small error will cause in such a small block. I now always measure after each additional piece.

Block 98 is my latest triangle block. I'm loving using up the little pieces of fabric left over from my DJ quilt. I have had that scrap of purple fabric in my stash for at least 10 years!

I made this one because in one moment I'm thinking I'd like to put one corner of the quilt together. And then in the next moment I'm telling myself I should wait until I've made all the blocks before I allow myself that treat.

So, whatever I decide to do, I'm going to need this block at some point ... so I made it :-)

Monday, March 15, 2010

I look at this now that it's done and just think, Wow - this is really bright! But I think it will look fine in the larger quilt, because I have plenty of other bright colors that will work their way into this project.

Sunday, March 14, 2010

I've made another block this weekend - the Nearly Insane Yahoo group challenge - Block 53.

The pale green fabric in the centre is another of my old DJ fabrics, and from the RJR Smithsonian collection. That really dates it - it must be at least 14 years old! I'm sure there are still older fabrics in my stash :-)

And the floral in the outside squares and triangles is the newest in my stash. Purchased on Friday, it's a Judie Rothermel reproduction.

Very happy with how my blocks are progressing - I've made 20 now, so that means I'm one fifth the way through the quilt!

Saturday, March 13, 2010

Finally! I've finished making up my replacement Block 8. I prepared all the foundations and did all the stitching but for the blue triangles last weekend. Then I just ran out of time.

I had a lot of quilting to do during the week, so last night was my first chance to get another look at this block. And I have to say, I'm MUCH happier this time around, and in so many ways.

Firstly, I like the colours better - I felt the yellow I used around the outside of the other block was too heavy, and I like the blue in this block. Blue always lifts things, doesn't it?

I changed the orientation of the blue triangles to all face the same way. While I appreciate that in the book the way they're positioned it gets the lighter fabric on the outside all the way around, I didn't like what it did in the corners where the rows met.

This block is much less crooked than the first one, and although still not perfect, I'm definitely not making the block again.

And now on a different topic. I really enjoy working on the challenge blocks from the Nearly Insane Yahoo group. I was wondering if anyone would be interested in participating if I was to post a weekly challenge block on line here? I'm happy to set the challenges - I'll probably just choose a block each week (rather than set them all way ahead of time). And if there's a certain block you need a nudge to work on, let me know, and we can make that a challenge and work on it together. I'd like to think I might post some 'in progress' pictures to help with construction, but I won't make too many promises given that I'm going on vacation soon. So, are you interested? Let me know :-)

Wednesday, March 10, 2010

I'm so enjoying putting these NI blocks together that almost every other project has taken something of a back seat. I've wanted to put another triangle together, and because the book fell open to this page, it became my next victim :-)

I love the colours I've selected for this block - and though the quilts photographed in the book don't have much blue, I'm going to incorporate some more into mine. In fact, I think I'll ultimately use blue cornerstones too.

I'm going to have to get some more of that green fabric, I've used up a lot already, and I love it way too much to run out.

Monday, March 8, 2010

This is my Block 38 - and it's the real NI Yahoo Group challenge block for this week. It was a typo on the database, but great news for me, because it meant I got two blocks made this week :-)

I've blurred the picture a little, but you can see it okay. In the corner squares I thought it would be fun to use Lynne's technique of inserting little pictures, so I found another strip of the Travels in Time fabric and fussy cut out some bits.

If I get time, I hope to have another go at Block 8 tomorrow. First I need to pin a quilt, and then it'll be all systems go!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

This block is a testimony to the fact that I have no plan for this quilt, other than making blocks with fabrics I like. I've mixed fabrics from multiple decades into quite a hodge-podge of styles, not only in this block, but among the other blocks, too. But it sure is fun - I'm really enjoying making them.

Saturday, March 6, 2010

I've just got it in under the wire. This is Block 29 - and it's this week's challenge block on the Nearly Insane Yahoo Group. Stitching time has been scarce for me this past week, so I'm going to try and make up for lost time on this long weekend.

I'm really pleased with how the block went together, and I've been able to use some favourite little scraps of fabric.

The white print is from the tiniest piece I had left over when making my 'Starstruck in Paducah' quilt. You know, there was so little of that fabric that I had to sew scraps together to make up some of the components of the blocks, and substitute some fabric also. I was being very frugal indeed. I think I may have around 2in square left. I'll find a home for it :-)

And the navy blue was a little piece from the strips that made up a scrap quilt I put together recently. I still have a chunk of it left, but it pleases me to use the tiny bits too.

I have three days left in which I'd like to pin two quilts, quilt one of those quilts, and if I get the chance, I'd like to have a go at remaking Block 8. I feel sure I can do a better job ... I just need to psyche myself up ...

Late Edit: There was an oops in the database, so this block isn't actually the challenge for this week. The challenge block is actually #38. I really hope to have it made in time for the deadline. If not, there's always next week!

Friday, March 5, 2010

Sorry that it has been a while since I have posted on here. This is block #70. This one is paper-pieced, which I find much easier when making small blocks. I would really like to get back to working on these a little more regular and not just a block here and there. I am doing this in BLUES since I had several other quilts in the works using reproduction fabrics. Had I to do it over, I would go with the reproduction fabrics, they are my favorite!Kristie